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Last call for membership renewal. Subscriptions are now overdue. You can find a form on the back page .

Two pictures by Alan Baldry—both taken in Christchurch Park. A male goosander and our much loved local tawny owl ‘Mabel,’ together with a grey squirrel that wanted to get in on the shot!

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales—No. 207076, Scotland No. SC037654 WILD IPSWICH -SWIFTS & HOUSE SPARROW PROJECT 2016 from Chris Courtney

t’s all just so exciting; the time has that the numbers of sparrows they have I finally arrived, the spring has sprung, seen in their garden, park or allotments the sparrows are chirping and soon the have dramatically reduced from what they swifts will be here too! Screaming away remember five, 10 or 15 years ago. Then as only swifts can! they may recall having noticed just two or three birds, when suddenly one day they And RSPB Ipswich Local Group’s brand realise they haven’t seen as single new Wild Ipswich Swift’s ‘n’ Sparrows sparrow for months! conservation project is now LIVE ! Absence of nest sites due to better So don’t hesitate, grab your House maintained roofs, plastic soffits and Sparrow Questionnaire (copy included bargeboards, loss or degradation of with this magazine), get out there and tell habitats due to over tidy gardens, the loss us what you see and hear! of hedges, shrubs and front gardens paved over for car parking, have all Everyone of our members should at the played their role. very least be able to record the presence or absence of house sparrows where Despite being a predominantly they live, and it is worth stressing that granivorous bird, house sparrow chicks negative records are just as important as in particular, require nutritious positive ones! Full instructions are invertebrates, insects and juicy included on the form and further paper caterpillars, packed with protein and copies are available from any committee moisture to enable them to grow and member, or can be downloaded and/or develop into strong and healthy adults. completed on-line. See our website for full details. Consequently the removal of that large hedge or ivy-clad tree can be absolutely Ten years ago, back in 2006, Ipswich critical to a colony’s survival when living Local Group surveyed house sparrows in a fragmented urban landscape, this across the town. This revealed we had especially for a species that frequently already lost sparrows from several parts forages no further than 70metres from the of Ipswich. Being a particularly sedentary nest. species, this tends to mean that once a population has become locally extinct, it’s Figures published in December 2015 gone from that locality forever. estimate house sparrows have declined by a staggering 66 per cent since the As a highly sociable and colonial species, 1970s while meanwhile swifts, for whom studies have shown that once colonies such long-term data sets are not fall below an optimal minimum size, available, are thought to be declining in sustaining a viable population from the UK by around three per cent a year. threats such as disease, predation and On the face of it, perhaps three percent natural mortality become increasingly doesn’t sound that high, but if sustained unlikely. Anecdotally, residents have at that level it equates to swifts reported from various parts of the town (Continued on page 3) 2 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 (Continued from page 2) House sparrow. Picture—Liz Cutting becoming extinct as a UK breeding species by 2050! Further research on swifts is still ongoing, but once again lack of suitable nest sites, as with house sparrows, is thought to be a principal cause of their diminishing populations.

Against a wider backdrop of frequently sombre news with regards to the state of UK wildlife as described in a recent comprehensive survey of trends in British biodiversity in the online journal, Nature Communications, by the University of Reading & Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,1 which established that British wildlife was in the most perilous state House sparrow. Picture—Liz Cutting recorded over past 40 years, it is heartening to be able to get out there to do something practical that will make a real material difference for some of the wildlife, literally on our very own doorsteps.

In addition to the citizen science questionnaire enclosed with this magazine (and on our website for those who receive the magazine electronically) we would also like to encourage those prepared to commit some additional time, to undertaking a more detailed, though still straightforward, census of house sparrow populations across pre- selected, 350m2 survey plots that are being allocated to individuals across the length and breadth of Ipswich. Finally, it will also help raise public awareness as to the plight of our familiar Both surveys are really valuable. The sparrows as well as, through follow up citizen science questionnaire has some nest box initiatives and subsequent special advantages, as it will enable us to habitat work with our partners Ipswich gather information from otherwise Wildlife Group and Greenways, to help inaccessible private areas, such as engender a sense of ownership and gardens and allotments and will also responsibility for our urban wildlife and allow us to obtain some useful anecdotal the habitat features they depend on. information about past sparrow numbers. The more detailed survey is based on a (Continued on page 4) 3 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016

(Continued from page 3) methodology developed by the Working Group on Urban Sparrows; a group of ornithologists with a special interest in and knowledge of house sparrows. This survey will provide results with effort evenly spread across Ipswich giving us average figures for house sparrow populations and distribution across each 1km square of the town.

Volunteers on this survey will need to make two or three visits between the start Swift. Picture—Tony Fox of April through to the end of May for each designated 350m2 survey square. Each visit will take around two hours to Ipswich in future years, so that we can complete. Please see the website for hopefully reverse their decline in our further details or contact me if you would town. like to know more! Meanwhile, if you would like to put up a Finally, from May through to late July, we house sparrow or swift nest box on would like to ask all those who have your house, please get in touch either by participated in the sparrow surveys to the Contact Us page on our website, or also record their sightings of swift by email or phone with any member of ‘screaming parties’ and/or confirmed the committee for more details. observations of swift nest sites. This can be done directly onto the Suffolk Finally, looking forward to the summer Biological Records Centre (SBRC) – ahead, a reminder (as we go to press) Suffolk Swifts Web pages: that places are still available for our joint http://www.suffolkbrc.org.uk/swift field meeting with SOG to RSPB Havergate, led by professional tour Once again please don’t hesitate to get in leader and past indoor meeting speaker touch if you would like help with this in David Walsh. Departs Orford Quay, any way. SundayWould 7 August you at like 10.00 to a.m.see costyour £17.50 name here? These swift surveys are simple and straightforward to complete and form part Have a Togreat find swift out how and to sparrow sponsor filledour of the county wide Save Our Suffolk summer! Newsletter or an indoor meeting please contact: Swifts project, which is also supported by 1Oliver, T. H. et al. Declining resilience of Suffolk Ornithologist’s Group and the Chris Courtney. Suffolk Wildlife Trust. For our part we will ecosystem functions under biodiversity be extracting the data for Ipswich, to help loss. Nat. Commun. 6:10122 doi: 10.1038/ focus our work in targeting the supply of ncomms10122 (2015). nest boxes, swift bricks and swift call playback systems, with the aim of encouraging more swifts to breed in

4 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 A SEABIRD CRUISE AROUND BRITAIN’S SMALLER ISLANDS (Pt. 1) from Richard Stewart n May 2015 my wife Anne-Marie and I Alderney was next, with three swifts I went on a sea cruise which started from seen as we waited for our second coach Portsmouth, aboard the 'Ocean Nova' party to join us. Some took the longer with sixty plus passengers and seven path to Les Etacs gannet colony but as staff to lead excursions off the boat, using Marie had hurt her toe we followed the inflatable Zodiacs. These leaders also shorter route. Here little egret, meadow gave evening lectures and advance pipit and great tit were added plus a information about future destinations. very obliging Dartford warbler, perched on flowering gorse. Several gannets flew Our first port of call was Guernsey in the past, including a line of 14, and Tim Earl, Channel Islands. A cormorant was in the one of our leaders, commented on their harbour and it was busy on shore, with long lives. One he had ringed was found the 70th year celebrations of liberation 34 years later on a Dutch beach. Our from German occupation. Our coach tour sleep that night was constantly took us initially to a highly decorated interrupted by boisterous conditions and small chapel. While others explored by morning we were so far behind inside I recorded mallard and young, schedule that the trip to Tresco in the moorhen, carrion crow, blackbird, Isles of Scilly was cancelled. We had woodpigeon, collared dove and the been on holiday there previously but it songs of chiffchaff and song thrush. would have been good to visit the large Our main destination was La Clare Mare pool near the Abbey gardens, which is nature reserve where we saw, on leaving often a hotspot for rare migrants. St. the coach, a chiffchaff with a sooty nose, Agnes was our afternoon destination with one part of its body it couldn't clean and house sparrows and two nesting evidence of overwintering in starlings near the landing place. Mediterranean olive groves. The plant life Kittiwakes were nesting in nearby cliffs was abundant, with sea thrift, birdsfoot and on our Zodiac trip we recorded trefoil, sea campion, tamarisk and cormorant, our first guillemot, both yellow sea-radish. Birds recorded lesser black-backed and herring gulls, included an escaped bar-headed goose, the star 'spot' being a great northern shelduck, great and lesser black- diver. Ashore there was a low tide, which backed gulls, wheatear and the best enabled us to explore adjoining Gugh. On sighting, a male marsh harrier, one of a our journey there were oystercatchers, breeding pair. Previous to the reserve's linnets, a pair of stonechats. At a creation no marsh harriers had ever remote beach where we were initially bred on the island. Swallows were alone, we saw pied wagtails, shelduck, abundant and along L'Eree shingle bank distant shag and mallard, rock pipits, a white wagtail, at least seven wheatear, turnstone, ringed plover and wheatears, oystercatchers and swallows weaving in and out of the shelduck were seen. More difficult to boulders on the shore. As we waited for find, well camouflaged as they fed among the boat trip to Annet there was a distant the seaweed, were whimbrel, curlew curlew call. and turnstone. (Continued on page 6)

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(Continued from page 5)

Annet is a nature reserve with very limited landing but our advertised circumnavigation materialised into exploring just two bays, with seals and shag on rocks but also the first puffin sightings. Lundy was next, another island not visited in our younger years when many holidays were spent on remote islands. We soon located the endemic Lundy cabbage and found both wild goats and fourteen distant sika deer. The climb up from the harbour, partially beneath sheltering trees, produced sand and house martins, swallows, one chaffinch, goldfinches, robin, Northern Fulmar. Picture—Barry Hall house sparrows ,starlings, linnets, wheatear, meadow pipit and skylark, dominated, flying or diving for food with the declining spotted flycatcher a everywhere you looked. The top of the welcome addition. Our first ravens were island was a mass of white nesting birds seen on the ground and in flight while a and we were told that they can prospect man staying on the island reported many for nesting sites right at the start of a new Manx shearwaters flying in after dark on year. They breed from late March through the previous night. We then climbed the to fledging in October and young birds 147 steps to the top of the lighthouse and move to the coast of west Africa or the enjoyed panoramic views, included areas Mediterranean for three years, then often we had no time to visit. returning to their original site. One bird A sea swell of forty knots curtailed our seemed entangled in orange plastic and intended Zodiac trip around Skomer but wardens landing on this uninhabited from the observation deck there were island have reported increased nesting good views of Manx shearwater rafts, use of such materials, with the inevitable probably over 500, their long narrow problems that sometimes occur. wings giving them grace and mastery as South Stack, the RSPB reserve on they flew low between waves, waiting for Anglesey in North Wales, was also nightfall before going inland. windswept. Inland we recorded meadow Grassholm was next, with a superb if pipit, linnets, a male stonechat, singing windswept and cold view from outside on skylark, whitethroat, jackdaws nesting the observation deck. Owned by the in a nearby house and a distant RSPB since 1947, this is the third most peregrine. Spray was being flung right important gannetry in the world. A few over the tall cliffs where we looked down swallows, guillemots, puffins and on nesting fulmars, herring gulls, razorbills were present but the gannets (Continued on page 7) 6 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 (Continued from page 6) choughs for 46 years. Later a warden said one male chough had learned how razorbills and guillemots. This is a to extract sunflower kernels from a stronghold of the chough and three pairs nearby feeder, with the female feeding on were seen flying, one with a courtship any that dropped to the ground. This was display involving calls and 'rolling' in flight the first time such behaviour had been with fanned out wings. The visitor centre noted in choughs and it was gave respite from the wind but a better subsequently reported in the RSPB's decision was to have a drink in the 'Nature's Home' magazine. nearby tea room as a chough turned up to feed on a small patch of lawn, just a To be continued…………. few yards from the large observation window. These were our first British

LAKENHEATH FEN NEWS from Katherine Puttick

elcome to the nearly spring news W from Lakenheath Fen!

It’s a lovely cold sunny day today, just what we need after all the dreary wet weather we’ve been having! We had more rain than usual in January, which has brought the river level up quite a bit. It is nice to see the washland with high water levels, and the wildlife certainly seems to appreciate it! Most of the reserve is unaffected, and we are Piles of cut reed in New Fen North gradually raising levels to optimum Picture—Katherine Puttick spring levels in preparation for the forthcoming breeding season. Botany Bay, the SSSI bit at the very western end of the reserve, however, is functioning very well as a washland, and is currently very wet!

One major bit of work that we did just before the Christmas break, and a few days at the start of January, was to cut a large, six hectare area of reed in New Fen North (the first reedbed) similar to what we did last year, but a bigger area Controlled bonfire. in the next oldest reed compartment. As Picture—Peter Dolton well as rejuvenating the reeds, we are hoping that, by tweaking the water levels, we will be able to create a spring (Continued on page 8)

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(Continued from page 7) spectacle of waders and ducks, and perhaps even create some good habitat for nesting lapwings, or even common terns! Most of this is visible from the viewpoint at New Fen North. The cut material was left in piles and then burned by our super team of volunteers, who enjoy nothing better than having a good fire!

Other odd jobs have included a bit of willow bashing, pothole filling, weeding and mulching the wildlife friendly hedge Great white egret. near the dipping pond, and inventing Picture—Matt Walton more storage space in the workshop!

Our cranes have been conspicuous by Wildlife sightings: their absence over the last three or four Up to three great white egrets have months, apart from the occasional fly past been present daily on the washland, of our resident cranes and their young. along with smaller numbers of little That was until last Thursday, when we egrets. Wildfowl numbers have been had eleven cranes over the reserve! We good, with up to seven pintail being are assuming that the cranes that came among the usual crowd of wigeon, teal, over were our resident pairs, plus their mallard and gadwall. Tufted ducks and young, plus a few extra pairs perhaps pochard are also present in smaller looking for new territories! numbers. A very handsome drake goosander was seen on the washland at Otters are still being seen quite regularly the start of January. at the moment both on the river and on the reserve. One has even been seen on Up to 27 marsh harriers have been the visitor centre pond on several recorded roosting on the reserve recently, occasions! We’ve also had sightings of a including a tagged bird (green tag with partially ermine stoat, Chinese water LL), who was ringed on the reserve as a deer, and a very sleepy lizard on a sunny nestling last year. A single ring-tailed day just before Christmas! harrier photographed on the reserve in January, on closer inspection turned out Hope to see you on the reserve soon! to be a pallid harrier – a first record for the reserve. One male hen harrier, peregrine and merlin have also been Fynn Valley Golf Club seen regularly. A single short-eared owl has been regularly seen hunting between Tel: 01473 785267 the visitor centre and the main road, along with a barn owl (which I’ve just Sponsors of an indoor meeting seen out of the office window)!

8 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 TRIP REPORTS from Stephen Marginson

RSPB ORFORD 5.12.15 Snipe. The day of the group's trip to Orford Picture—Barry Hall turned out very windy. We met at Orford as planned and set out along the bank. However 40 to 50 mph winds meant conditions were very unpleasant and bird watching was virtually impossible. Very few birds were noted, with just a few avocet and duck around. We, therefore, quickly returned and headed for Iken Cliff where conditions were much better being sheltered from the wind. We enjoyed groups of redshanks, curlews, lapwings and teal all giving super views. The flock of around 300 avocets was also impressive, wheeling around in the wind against the backdrop of Iken Church and Hall. Star bird, though, was without a doubt the male hen harrier spotted over very rich biodiversity. It was on these the far reedbeds and watched before grazing marshes flooded by recent rain, disappearing across Snape Warren. A we were able to watch white-fronted, truly magnificent bird with its grey barnacle and Brent geese along with plumage and black wing tips which is now thousands of teal, wigeons and good very rare due to continued persecution in numbers of pintails, lapwings and it’s breeding areas. A juvenile marsh curlews. Around 300 black-tailed harrier was also noted along with a godwits were on the reserve, no doubt variety of woodland birds making use of making the most of the fine feeding the shelter offered at Iken. conditions, with the soft grass and mud ideal for their long probing beaks. Earlier NORTH WARREN RSPB 9.1.16 in the woodlands around Thorpeness A superb male marsh harrier quartering Mere we watched siskins and redpolls the reedbeds in the morning sunlight was amongst other woodland birds. However, a magnificent sight for those who came it was the wildfowl and geese spectacle on this trip. It is only due to the efforts of that eclipsed all else. For those who organisations like the RSPB that such a returned via the A12 a common buzzard spectacle is able to be enjoyed here in soaring over the Glemham Hall Estate Suffolk and we are most grateful and made a fitting end to a great morning's lucky to have such sights near to hand. bird watching. North Warren was originally just an area of heathland frequented by rabbits and MISTLEY AND MANNINGTREE 24.1.16 harvested by the warreners. The site is Thirty-four members gathered for our now better known for its wet grazing annual visit to the River Stour at marsh, a habitat which is becoming very Manningtree and Mistley. As always it scarce outside reserves, and one that has (Continued on page 10)

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(Continued from page 9) Robin in full spring song. Picture—Barry Hall turned out to be a great trip. The tide was rising as we met up, pushing a lot of birds in front of us at Manningtree Maltings. Great views were had of flocks of dunlins, redshanks and black-tailed godwits. A few curlews and a wintering greenshank were spotted as well. On Hog’s Marsh a considerable number of lapwings were roosting, along with cormorants and shelducks. On the river red-breasted mergansers and goldeneyes were busily feeding. On the north shore avocets were noted along with a huge flock of knots which wheeled around glistening in the morning sunshine. They settled at the roost at Stutton Mill House with the Webs count that day recording around 2,800. After windy, so not ideal weather conditions, watching all the activity for some time we although the buzzard that hung in the moved on towards Mistley. Groups of wind above the group allowing super pintails and Brent geese were moving views of this now common raptor was up river with the tide. Wigeons and teal obviously making the most of the were few in number but most members conditions. Ten species of wader were had seen large groups of both on the seen with the most numerous being river upstream of the sluice at Brantham lapwing with around 250 present. Other road bridge. Mistley added a few more waders included redshank, curlew, goldeneyes, a kingfisher plus a few dunlin, turnstone, ringed and grey distant grebes and mergansers to the plover and avocet. All the five species list. of gull which winter on the river were noted with good numbers of common Activity had dwindled by this stage, with gull at high tide being of particular the tide now well in and covering all the interest. These estuarine birds were areas of mud, therefore driving the birds supported by a cast of common woodland to their roosting areas. Altogether a great birds along the banks and in the morning’s birding at this superb spot for surrounding scrub and trees. Robin, watching winter waders and wildfowl. blackbird, song thrush, chaffinch and great tit were all heard in full song as we RIVER DEBEN 6.2.16 move into spring. Thirty-eight species were noted on the group's trip to the River Deben between Altogether an interesting couple of hours Melton and Woodbridge. This gives an bird watching on this prime bit of the indication of the wide variety of birdlife to Deben estuary. be seen along a stretch of about two miles of river wall. The day was very

10 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 PLACES TO VISIT: HOLLAND HAVEN CP from Patricia Hall expect most of us have a list of ‘bogey addition of a golf course. Parking is I birds,’ those birds which we should see available at a pay-and-display car park in but never seem to catch. I don’t mean the country park (expensive) or on-street real rarities but birds which may have a in either of the two towns. You can then restricted range or habitat, or are only walk along the footpath which runs behind seen on migration, which may take some the sea wall. However we opted to park time or effort to seek out. I have been inland in the small village of Great gradually whittling away my list over the Holland and walk across the fields via a years but there are some ridiculous ones footpath. By the time we had reached the like lesser whitethroat which I have seen shoreline footpath the rain had really set easily in Europe, but for some stupid in so we hastened towards the first hide. reason, not easily at home. However, one bird which remains near the top is the After a short time I noticed through the rough-legged buzzard. I have had one murk a large light-coloured raptor sitting (fairly brief) view in Scandinavia, seen on a fence post some distance away. In whilst standing rather uncomfortably fact the murk was so bad it was like behind the crash barrier on a mountain ‘joining up the dots’ as only the patches of road whilst staring up at a rockface, and a lighter plumage stood out and I had to couple in Suffolk which were either imagine what was missing. There were distant, obscured by fog or both. quite a few corvids around so I hoped they would disturb it so we could get a All this changed this winter when, after better/closer view. It turned out to be a being alerted by an article in the EADT, grey heron that did the trick and soon the we set off for Holland Haven CP, a site bird was in the air showing its we had not visited before. According to characteristic flight pattern, hovering with BBC weather the day was set fair, but no slightly angled wings, coming closer to sooner had we crossed into Essex than it the hide at the time. Unfortunately this started to drizzle! attracted the attention of some gulls who chased it back onto the marsh. It was Holland Haven is a country park managed then observed back on the fence again by Tendring District Council. It comprises looking distinctly disgruntled by the about 100 acres of coastal grazing marsh weather. with a scrape, other pools and water-filled dykes with a couple of hides. It is This was certainly the best and closest sandwiched between Frinton Golf Course view I had ever had and it was only a pity to the north and Holland-on-Sea to the the conditions were not suitable for south. To the east is of course the sea photography. However it was worth but this is kept back by a massive getting (very) wet for. concrete wall which presumably formed part of the wartime defences. The area is very similar to RSPB North Warren but on a much smaller scale and much less rural. Frinton and Holland-on-Sea are about the same distance apart as Thorpeness and Aldeburgh but with the

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NEWS FROM RSPB MINSMERE RESERVE from Ian Barthorpe

he two firecrests that have T taken up winter residence around Scott’s Hall and the rhododendron tunnel continue to attract a lot of interest - for those lucky enough to actually see them. Frustratingly, they seem to avoid the attentions of most of our volunteers, despite many visitors having had good views.

The rhododendron tunnel area is Whooper Swan. proving a good place to spot several Picture—Barry Hall of our smaller birds, with regular sightings of goldcrests, treecreepers, marsh tits and up to 50 siskins. Elsewhere in the woodlands, There have been good numbers of red- at least 12 redwings are feeding among throated divers offshore all week, as the leaf litter in South Belt Woods, a well as great crested grebes and a few chiffchaff (or possibly two) is regular guillemots, kittiwakes and grey seals. near Bittern Hide, and green The Scrape is looking superb, with huge woodpeckers and bullfinches are flocks of the commoner ducks - wigeon, regular. Great spotted woodpeckers gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler and and marsh tits are regular on the visitor shelduck - joined by up to 19 pintails centre feeders. and 24 tufted ducks. Lapwings are the most numerous wader, with several Normally we would be very sceptical of a hundred usually present, but there are report of an adder an early February, but also about 50 dunlins, 36 black-tailed after such a mild winter is was actually godwits and a handful of curlews, not a surprise when a male was ringed plovers, redshanks and photographed on Sunday. The adder trail turnstones present, as well as the is now open, but we do not expect regular occasional avocet and oystercatcher. sightings until mid March. Gull numbers are down a bit, but often still include one or more of yellow- In the wetlands, there's been a lot of legged, Caspian and Mediterranean interest in the red-throated diver that gulls. has been favouring the pool behind South Hide. On Thursday it relocated to the pool There are at least nine marsh harriers north of the North Wall sluice - exactly the over the reedbed - at least they seem to same spot chosen by the Slavonian enjoy the wind - as well as grebe earlier in the week. Sadly, but not sparrowhawks, buzzards and two unexpectedly, this diver looks to be sick, peregrines - the latter favour perches out with a large swelling in it's neck, which on the Levels. Bitterns and otters are probably explains its tameness. seen most days - though not necessary (Continued on page 13)

12 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 (Continued from page 12) didn't look up in time, but the stoat did, and when about ten feet away it changed showing well at the moment - and a direction and hid under some wood. A kingfisher was at South Hide today. Two few minutes later it (or possibly another or three whooper swans and about four stoat) was spotted chasing rabbits at the Bewick's swans are still present, though front of the reception building too. mobile, within the reedbed area too. Adapted with permission from Ian’s blog – Finally, on Wednesday morning we had a posted 6.2.2016 moment of comedy in the visitor centre as a stoat ran towards the feeders while one of our volunteers was filling them up. He

NEWS FROM RSPB STOUR ESTUARY RESERVES from Isabel Morgan (Warden)

am looking after Wolves Wood and ecologists can tell the difference. Both I Flatford Wildlife Garden whilst Shirley is species tend to be found on debris from on leave for a while. It has been lovely hazels, willows and elms and enjoy a getting to know all the volunteers and the rather damp climate, so it should be quite Stour Estuary reserves over the last at home in Wolves Wood. month. I have been working and volunteering with the RSPB on and off On my wanderings through the woods I since 2007, when I worked a seasonal have flushed up a couple of woodcocks contract at South Stack. I have been resting near the rides and had lovely fortunate to have the opportunity to work views of marsh tit, goldcrest and in some brilliant places and seeing some treecreeper in Wolves Wood. I am sure it of our most iconic birds and it is great to will not be long until the woodpeckers add Wolves Wood to that list. start drumming and I am looking forward We have welcomed a few new volunteers to hearing the nightingales sing as well to the Wolves Wood work parties. The as the arrival of the rest of the spring team have been busy working on cutting migrants. the scrub back from the rides at Wolves and Ramsey Woods, opening up a couple of the ponds as well as coppicing some of Magazine Printers & the hazel stands. Currently contractors Sponsors: are in Wolves Wood and have almost completed the big coppice plot for this Sharward Services Ltd, year. Main Road, Westerfield, The volunteers uncovered the rather Ipswich. uncommon scarlet/ruby elf cup fungus (Sarcoscypha sp.) whilst doing some Tel: 01473 212113 coppicing work. The scarlet and ruby elf cup species are quite difficult to tell apart, we are hoping one of our expert

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MIDWEEK WALKS IN IPSWICH PARKS 2015 from Teresa Marrable have read that Ipswich has the most kingfisher. It flew up onto a branch and I parks and green spaces of any sat there for a good few minutes with the comparably-sized town in England. This sun reflecting off its electric blue and means that there are plenty of great orange feathers. It always makes our day places within a very short distance of the when we see one of these brilliantly- town centre to see birds and allows the coloured birds and we are really lucky to RSPB Ipswich Local Group to organise a see them so often. Walking along the midweek walk once a month around river we were rewarded with views of different habitats. wigeon, oystercatchers, lapwings, curlews, mute swans, shelduck and I started going on these walks just over a gadwalls. year ago. The first was to Piper’s Vale, a place I had heard of but never actually In December we had a very good walk in visited. It’s always a bit daunting starting Christchurch Park with quite a few people something new when you don’t know in spite of the drizzly weather. At the anyone but everyone was so friendly and evening meeting Chris Courtney had made me feel very welcome. I was a very mentioned the arrival of three female novice birdwatcher with a very limited goosanders in the park and so we were knowledge of birds but was keen to learn. keen to see these winter visitors. We One of the wonderful things about weren’t the only people looking for them. birdwatching is how everyone is happy to Around the wilderness pond there were a point things out and share their number of people with their cameras out. knowledge. The birds were very accommodating and swam backwards and forwards across Standing above the shore line at Piper’s the pond, often being mobbed by the Vale we saw redshanks, avocets, black-headed gulls looking for an easy cormorants, mute swans, and little meal. In the Upper Arboretum we had egrets in and around the water. Walking great views of two little goldcrests in the round the park through the bushes we bushes just in front of us. They darted saw greenfinches, robins, blackbirds, about taking absolutely no notice of us. chiffchaffs and various species of tit. We What a wonderful sight. As we walked stood under the enormous concrete across the park to see ‘Mabel,’ who pillars of the Orwell Bridge and gazed in unfortunately was hiding, we watched a awe at the peregrine falcon sitting on green woodpecker searching for ants in the nest box. I have since been back with the grass. As it flew away we could the group on a number of occasions and clearly see its yellow rump. each time we have been rewarded by views of this wonderful bird flying around After going on a few walks I decided to or on the nestbox. note down the birds I was seeing. This has helped me not only to remember The last time I was at Piper’s Vale in what I have seen, but also to start to learn October on a distinctly chilly morning, to recognise the birds as I can link the looking out over the river I spotted a bird names on my lists to what I saw on the diving into the water and back up again. walks. There was only one bird it could be – a (Continued on page 15)

14 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 (Continued from page 14)

In his book How to be a Bad Birdwatcher (2004, Short Books) Simon Barnes states:

‘Birdwatching is a way of changing your relationship with the world, and it begins with names … A name is the sharing of a thing. And by acquiring the name, you can share it with me, with everybody who likes things. I can tell you I saw a nice bird the other day and you can say, ah yes, good. But I can tell you that I saw a yellowhammer, and you might almost have been with me.’

This is so true. Being able to recognise and name a bird brings to your mind all the information that you have read and learnt about that bird, changes the way you look at it and brings you a little bit closer to it.

I wanted to do something with the lists so I decided to record the birds on the BTO Birdtrack website. I think it’s interesting to look at the data and see what birds were spotted and where and when. For those ‘Mabel’ pictured by Alan Baldry who like data, I have listed the 61 bird species that we saw or heard at eight different sites last year: Chantry Park in February, Bourne Park in March, Orwell Park in April, Piper’s Vale in May, Holywells Park in September, Pipers Vale in October, River Orwell from Bourne Bridge in November and Christchurch Park in December.

Five very familiar birds were seen on each occasion – woodpigeon, robin, magpie, carrion crow and black- headed gull with blue tit and mallard being the next most common species. This is, of course, to be expected but it is sad to note that the house sparrow, once so commonplace, was only seen on Goldcrest pictured by Teresa Marrable one occasion, at Bourne Park. (Continued on page 16)

15 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016

(Continued from page 15) Christchurch and Holywells Parks. Strolling gently for a couple of hours The walks are led by Kathy Reynolds round the parks or along the river bank who is also very knowledgeable about with a convivial group of people is a very plants and so I am not only learning relaxing and healthy way to spend a about birds but also about wild flowers Tuesday morning. I would highly and trees. recommend it if you want to get out in the fresh air, forget your worries and enjoy We are so lucky to have such a range of the beauty of nature. birds in such close proximity to the town centre. People come from miles around to see the mandarin ducks in

More birds from Ipswich Parks

Goosander♀ Picture—Barry Hall

Female goosander pictured by Barry Hall as was the preening Mandarin duck. Second picture of a Mandarin duck by Teresa Marrable

16 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 RSPB Midweek Walks 2015

Wren Water Pipit Starling Rock Pipit Pheasant Mute Swan Mandarin Duck Little Grebe Jay Greylag Goose Great Tit Goldcrest Cormorant Chiffchaff Blue Tit Blackbird 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

17 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016

SIGHTINGS FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY FROM BIRDLINE EAST ANGLIA

Bird (numbers in brackets) Site Cattle egret Iken (from 2 Jan) Slavonian grebe (1-5) Covehithe Broad, Alton Water and River Stour (Jan-Feb), Minsmere (1-2 Feb) Long-tailed duck Lackford Lakes SWT (Jan—Feb) Red-necked grebe (3) Alton Water (Jan-Feb) Black-necked grebe (2-3) Alton Water (Jan-Feb) Great northern diver (1-3) Alton Water and Rivers Stour and Orwell (Jan-Feb), Lake Lothing (Jan, 2 Feb), West Stow CP (11-12 Jan), Lackford Lakes (12 Jan), Covehithe Broad (25 Jan, 3 Feb), River Alde (21 Feb) Glaucous gull Sizewell (1 Jan), Oulton Broad and Felixstowe (6 Jan), Covehithe Broad (4 Jan), Southwold (13 Feb) Iceland gull Lackford lakes (Jan), Great Livermere (Jan, Feb) Glossy Ibis (10 Jan—16 Feb) Ramsholt, Boyton , Hollesley RSPB and Gedgrave Marshes, Minismere RSPB Scaup Covehithe Broad (until 13 Jan) Ring ouzel Oulton Marsh (24 Jan) Sandwich tern Bawdsey Quay (31 Jan), Felixstowe (1 Feb), Landguard (6 Feb), Foxhall (21 Feb) Pallid Harrier Lakenheath RSPB (15 Jan) Waxwing Ipswich (31 Jan-3 Feb) Green-winged teal ♂ Blythburgh (1-18 Feb) Great grey shrike Santon Warren (Feb) Hooded crow North Warren RSPB (14 Feb), Minsmere RSPB (15 Feb)

For the latest bird news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile cost 65p per minute plus telephone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia, for enquiries please call 0330 333 6946 or 0794 133 3970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk

18 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 ORWELL OBSERVER

We are still having to post on average about 30 magazines each time. Whilst the committee accept that some will need posting our aim is to reduce this to the absolute minimum so that we can spend our money more wisely. You can help by:-  Agreeing to receive your full-colour magazine via e-mail either to read on screen or print off yourself.  Collecting your magazine at the indoor meeting or alternatively arranging for a friend to collect it for you.  Agreeing to deliver a few magazines in your neighbourhood. We post most magazines to IP4 post code.

Thank you to those who do help in the ways described above, we just need a few more willing hands!! For offers of help or further information please contact the editor.

Swap, Donate or Buy? Don’t forget the next plant stall is at our October indoor meeting when you can:-  Swap—bring along a plant (or seeds) and take home a different one.  Donate a plant (or seeds) for someone else to take home.  Buy a plant (or seeds) that someone has donated.

Plants should have a proven benefit for wildlife. At our last ‘Swap’ some members expressed an interest in primroses. These have now reached weed status in my garden and are even now ‘invading’ the road outside my house. If you would like some please let me know well before the October meeting so I can pot up some for you.

All profits will go towards RSPB conservation projects.

Do you wish you could see the Fenn Wright photographs of the birds in Estate Agents colour? If you wish to switch from the black and white paper Tel: 01473 261090 magazine to an electronic full colour version please contact the Sponsors of an indoor meeting editor or membership secretary.

19 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016

What’s On—Dates for your diary for April & beyond For details of how to find out more about these events please see separate entry or contact organiser of event; details may also appear on website. (Walk leader’s/ organiser’s initials will appear after entry and their contact details appear at the end of the diary) …………..continued on next page

Date Event Time Meeting Place 16 April Field Meeting—Bourne Park, Spring 9.00 a.m. Bourne Park car Wood & Kiln Lane LNR for spring birds. park, Stoke Park 4hrs. 4miles. SM Drive. TM152419 19 April Midweek Walk—Bridge Wood. KR Orwell Country Park car park. TM188408 30 April Field Meeting—Dawn Chorus walk at 4.30 a.m. Bobbits Lane car Millennium & Spring Woods, Kiln park off Stoke Meadow and surrounding area. 2-3hrs. Park Drive. 2-3miles. CC TM148415 2 May Spring Wood Day at Kiln Meadow— 11-4.00 Park & ride from Children’s activities, storytelling, wood p.m. Bourne Park, and bushcraft, guided walks, folk music Stoke Park & dancing, refreshments. entrance 4 May Field Meeting—SWT Newbourne 6.30 p.m. Car park, Springs Reserve for summer birds. Newbourne 2hrs. 2miles. SM village.TM275433 11 May Field Meeting—Rushmere Common for 6.30 p.m. Heath Road spring & summer birds. 2hrs. 3miles. entrance. SM TM197445 17 May Midweek Walk—Pipers Vale. KR 10.00 a.m. Car park at Vale entrance. TM178419 21 May SWT—trip to BTO Headquarters at Thetford & Cambridge Botanic Gardens, booking essential, phone to book and for more details. 01473 723179 8.00 a.m.—5.30 p.m. Cost £25 plus £5 for tour of the gardens. Early June Field Meeting—Nightjar evening at 8.00 p.m. Car park. (date Upper Hollesley Common. SM TM335471 depending on weather Final details on website or e-mail conditions) [email protected] 14 June Midweek Walk—Christchurch Park. 10.00 a.m. Soane Street KR entrance. TM165448

20 ORWELL OBSERVER April 2016 More dates for your diary

29 June Field Meeting—Landguard, 6.30 p.m. Manor Road car wildflowers of a Shingle Spit plus a park Felixstowe. few birds. TM290325 2hrs. 3miles. SM 24 July Field Meeting—Trimley SWT 2.00 p.m. Car park at Reserve for summer & autumn Searson’s Farm, birds. 5hrs. 8miles. SM Cordy’s Lane, Trimley St. Martin. TM277537 Early Field Meeting to RSPB See website for further details, Aug. Havergate—Joint Ipswich RSPB/ but meanwhile please contact SOG Chris Courtney if you would like put your name down. 20 Aug. Field Meeting—Felixstowe Ferry, 9.00 a.m. Felixstowe Ferry Deben Marshes & Kingsfleet for car park. autumn birds. 3hrs. 6miles. SM TM327376.

8 Sept. Indoor Meeting—‘Unravelling the 7.30 p.m. Sidegate Lane Mysteries of Bird Migration,’ with School, Sidegate Leuin Evans BTO Communications Lane, Ipswich. Director.